The Headache: The demands of the banker's day just keep growing. Life is busy on all fronts and you have to take care of your customers, be they the public or, for those on support staff, your fellow bankers. It can be tough to keep your chin up, your shoulder to wheel, and all that. It helps to have reminders of good advice, good attitude, good ideas.

Our Question: What advice, quotations, slogans, or other helpful messages do you keep on your desk, on your bulletin board, or under your glass desktop?

Come see what other bankers think, and add your own views

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What reminders, words of wisdom, or inspiration do you keep around your desk?

In 33 years of financial journalism, I've visited many bankers and financial officials in their offices, from chieftains of major institutions to community bankers to people very junior in their banks. One commonality is that most put something in their office to remind themselves of their moral touchstones; their goals and aspirations; or perspectives that help them keep on track, keep a sense of humor, or, sometimes, keep their sanity. Sometimes these reminders go on cards on a bulletin board. Some go on little plaques, or even screen savers.

• One veteran Washingtonian that I visited kept a whitewashed shingle on an easel on his bookcase. On it someone has hand-lettered an iconic quote from Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged: "Who is John Galt?" To get that cryptic phrase, you'll have to read the book.

• Most recently, I visited a Pennsylvania banker who had an old-fashioned glass-topped desk. Under the glass he had a selection of pithy wisdom and advice that he's heard over the years, on conducting business and on how to run a good bank.

This got us to thinking, and led to our appeal in ABA Banking Journal Editors Report for banker contributions to this special Aspirin. We hope you enjoy it, and perhaps find something new for your own wall.--Steve Cocheo, executive editor and digital content manager

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  Winner of the $50 Amazon card drawing is Marcia Cody, Farmers and Merchants Bank, Archbold, Ohio

  Winner of the $50 Amazon card drawing for the second part of the year is Brenda Schauer, Security State Bank, Wishek, N.D.

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If you would like to join our regular list of "prescribers," to whom we send questions, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it today.

 
Let's hear your views and ideas below! (Editorial Note: Contributions to Pass the Aspirin may also appear in our print edition. While we will ask for your e-mail address, this is only as an aid to verifying identity and will not be used for any marketing or promotional purpose. The e-mail address will not be published.)  

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